To require the Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia and the Director of the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia to reside in the District of Columbia.

Bill Number

H.R. 3047

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Last Updated

2025-05-29T12:54:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill, H.R. 3047, aims to establish a residency requirement in the District of Columbia (DC) for the top leaders of two federal agencies that provide court and supervision services in DC. The goal is to ensure these directors have a direct connection to the community they serve.

Key Provisions

• Residency for CSOSA Director: Amends Section 11233(b)(1) of the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 (codified in DC law) to require the Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA) to be a DC resident. This is added alongside existing compensation rules.
• Residency for PSA Director: Amends Section 23-1304(b) of the DC Official Code to require the Director of the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA) to be a DC resident, expanding on current appointment language.
• Effective Date: The changes apply only to individuals first appointed as directors on or after the bill's enactment date. Current directors are not affected.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Previously, these laws focused on appointment and compensation without mandating residency. The bill inserts explicit DC residency requirements into these sections, making it a condition of the role for future hires.
• No other aspects of the agencies' operations, funding, or oversight are altered.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: CSOSA (which supervises offenders and provides court services) and PSA (which handles pretrial services like monitoring defendants before trial) may face a smaller pool of candidates if residency is a barrier, but it could foster stronger local leadership and community ties in DC.
• On Citizens: DC residents might benefit from directors who understand local issues firsthand, potentially improving services for those involved in the justice system. Non-residents are unaffected except possibly in hiring dynamics.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic, DC-specific measure.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Directors of CSOSA and PSA: Future appointees must live in DC, which could influence their personal decisions or relocation needs.
• Federal and DC Government Officials: The U.S. Congress (via oversight committees) and DC authorities will enforce the new rule during appointments.
• Agency Staff and Service Recipients: Employees and individuals in DC's court system (e.g., offenders, pretrial defendants) may see indirect benefits from locally rooted leadership.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Residency requirements for public officials are common and generally upheld if not overly restrictive (e.g., they don't violate equal protection under the U.S. Constitution). This bill targets federal positions in DC, a unique federal district, so it aligns with Congress's authority over DC governance.
• Constitutional: No major challenges expected, as it doesn't infringe on fundamental rights and applies narrowly to leadership roles in community-focused agencies.
• Political: Reinforces DC's local identity within federal structures, potentially addressing concerns about "outsider" leadership in a city without full statehood. It could spark debate on similar requirements for other federal roles but remains a minor, targeted reform.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
• 2025-04-28: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-28: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E341-342)
• 2025-04-28: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• To require the Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia and the Director of the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia to reside in the District of Columbia. — issued 2025-04-28 — PDF (2 pages)